Digital Camcorders...

[edro]

I haven't used a camcorder since the 8mm days, and I want a newer digital one.

Are there any that record to MPEG4 (or whatever DVD is), so you can copy it straight to your computer and burn to DVD? DO all of those require memory cards (large ones)?

So if the objective is to get the video to a DVD from any MiniDV camera, I would have to capture it like the old 8mm cameras with a TV capture card (my ALL-IN-WONDER)?

Thanks!

 

[radioouman]

MiniDV camcorders have either Firewire or USB output. You don't "capture" the video. You just play it, and it is written to a file on the hard drive of the computer.
MiniDV is the way to go. By the way, MiniDV is a format that you can convert to MPEG4.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: radioouman
MiniDV camcorders have either Firewire or USB output. You don't "capture" the video. You just play it, and it is written to a file on the hard drive of the computer.
MiniDV is the way to go. By the way, MiniDV is a format that you can convert to MPEG4.

Ok, so as you play the video (over Firewire or USB), it copies a file to your computer in MiniDV format, then you convert it to MPEG4? How large and what extension are these MiniDV files? Are they different for each manufacturer or is there a standard MiniDV file format?

Oh, and thanks!

 

[radioouman]

MiniDV is a standard video codec. The files are large as the video is basically uncompressed and it is of a very high quality. (I believe that it is something like 60 frames per sec.)
MiniDV tapes are only 60 minutes so the entire files is a couple gig.

I don't think that I've ever converted a video over to MPEG4 from MiniDV. I convert it over to MPEG to write to DVD or if it is a very short clip, I convert it over to .WMV.

 

[PricklyPete]

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: radioouman
MiniDV camcorders have either Firewire or USB output. You don't "capture" the video. You just play it, and it is written to a file on the hard drive of the computer.
MiniDV is the way to go. By the way, MiniDV is a format that you can convert to MPEG4.

Ok, so as you play the video (over Firewire or USB), it copies a file to your computer in MiniDV format, then you convert it to MPEG4? How large and what extension are these MiniDV files? Are they different for each manufacturer or is there a standard MiniDV file format?

Oh, and thanks!

I have only a little experience with a couple of cameras and the Windows Movie Maker program (was MORE than enough for what I was trying to do...but obviously not a professional movie making software). Anyway, once I completed filming, I plugged the camera into the machine via Firewire. A windows import wizard shows up giving you the option to import the video to your machine. When I did that, I believe it copied it over in 640x480 WMV file for each time I pressed the "record button". You can than Mix, cut, and edit the videos into whatever group of segments you want. It was easy and very convenient.

 

[loic2003]

The files are huge: in the Gb's...best free up some space.
Most Cameras come with software to edit and encode the video. usually it's crippled (I got a lame copy of pinnacle studio with my Canon MV600-none of the effects worked or anything) so you might be better off 'buying' Adobe Premiere or something.

MiniDV is simply the type of cassette used to record the data (like 8mm, VHS, etc). When importing the data, I believe it depends on the software as to what type of format it comes down in. Basically it's uncompressed video and is staggeringly huuge.
Mini DV is the way to go, my canon was ok, although it broke about 2 months after the warranty ran out: the CCD just gave up one day. Not good. It had been strapped to a motorbike in the past, however, but it had worked fine for several months after this.

I'm thinking of going for the Canon MV700i next time. It's the new version of the 600 - basically the same but smaller- but it has the 'i' features which means you can plud in another source and it records from there. I have a tiny wireless micro-camera/receiver which would work perfectly with it.

I digress...

There are some video cameras that actually burn straight to DVD but they are super-crap and I'd avoid them if I were you.

 

[labgeek]

We've got the Samsung SD-C6040 Link to Samsung site. It's got a 4MP digital camera built in. There's not a lot we don't like about it. The control knob on the top getting switched too easily and the software is pretty sucky are the only complaints so far. Other than that it takes nice pics... We use it all the time.

 

[edro]

Awesome! Thank you guys for clearing that up!

 

[NuclearNed]

I think DVDs actually use MPG2, not MPG4. Virtually all digital camcorders record in a format that can be converted to MPG2, but I don't know of any that record directly to MPG2. I use MS Windows Movie Maker to capture and edit video from my Sony digital camcorder, then I use TMPGENC to encode it into MPG2. Then I use DVDLab Pro to create menus, etc.

www.videohelp.com is a great resource for learning the ins and outs of all this stuff.

 

[Kelemvor]

http://www.camcorderinfo.com

Panasonic PV-GS150 is what I went with. Haven't used it muchyet but it's great.

Memoery cards are only for still pictures which is what a camera is for...